Page 107 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I stick my hands up with a chuckle. “I know. You’re right. I was worried for nothing.”

After we left the observatory, I couldn’t stop questioning whether or not coming to the lake house was a good idea. TJ hadn’t taken his eyes off me once since we’d arrived, and I didn’t know how long I could pretend like I didn’t see him before it became obvious that I was icing him out. The girls picked up on it right away, so needless to say, TJ isn’t exactly the king of subtlety.

Thankfully, he laid off the ogling a little while after we gathered in the living room. He’s still casting glances in my direction every few minutes, but at least he’s not staring into my soul like he wants to teach me a lesson for ignoring him.

I have no doubt he’s just waiting until he can get me alone.

I take a sip of the homemade sangria Dia and I made, and I’m hit by the sudden urge to pee. Alcohol does this funny thing to my bladder where I’m totally fine one second and then wondering if I’m going to pee my pants the next.

I excuse myself to the bathroom down the hall while the guys are filling up in the kitchen and come out a few minutes later. I’m still unfamiliar with the layout of this mansion, though, and I can’t seem to remember which way I came from, so I pick a direction at random.

My throat tightens when I turn the corner and hear the guys laughing in the distance. They’re bickering in the kitchen, and the last thing I want is to have to pass them on my way back to the living room. I’m turning to leave, but the sound of Chance’s voice has the effect of a roadblock, keeping me in place.

“Dude, what the fuck is going on with you and Lacey? I can’t keep up with you two.”

I should head back, but I can’t move a muscle.

“She hasn’t looked at you once since we got here. Weren’t you two dating?” Theo asks.

“Yeah, TJ, what’s that about?” Aaron piles on, a drop of arrogance bleeding through his words. The question is loaded with ulterior motives, and I can only assume the guys heard it, too.

“Nah, we dated casually for a while, and it was fun, but that’s over.”

“Really? How come?” Aaron asks.

“It’s…” TJ pauses. “I could tell she was starting to catch feelings, and I don’t like her like that.”

My stomach sinks to the hardwood floor.

Well, then…

At least we’re clear on that.

It’s as though he just jammed an arrow right into the center of my heart and started twisting to make sure no part was left untouched.

Is that why he didn’t come near me that night at the party? Because he was afraid I was catching feelings and he doesn’t like me back?

Silly girl. Did you really think he was going to fall in love with you? It was only ever a physical thing. Nothing more.

I stand there in the hallway, processing what he said for a good five minutes. I don’t want to cry. It would be stupid to cry over what could’ve been.

I inhale a sharp breath, bring my hand to my shirt, and clutch the fabric on top of my heart.

He doesn’t like you, Lacey. Just like Theo didn’t like you. Because they never like you.

Jesus.

I have to tell the voice in my head to shut the hell up at least five times before I’m able to rejoin the group in the living room.

I can feel TJ’s eyes boring into my forehead from the moment I enter the room.

“Did you get lost on the way to the bathroom?” Aaron says at the sight of me.

I slap on a smile. “Yep. Walked around the house for, like, ten minutes.”

Aaron laughs, his eyes never leaving me as I scan the living room and all of my friends. Dia, Finn, Aveena, and Xavier are all sitting together, sharing one side of the large U-shaped couch, while Chance, TJ, Theo, and Aaron are sitting opposite them. There’s just one spot available next to Aaron.

There’s something in Aaron’s eyes when he sees me approaching. A glimmer of satisfaction. He’s glad I have to sit next to him.

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